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May
23

Ebooks as Teaching Methods?

May 23, 2011 By 3 Comments

May 23, 2011 By 3 Comments

Four children reading the book How the Grinch ... 

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A new wave of technology is hitting children’s books stores across the nation: Ebooks. Ebooks are books that use various forms of technology with the intention of helping children learn to read. These books are shown on TV to be extremely helpful for children who are old enough to read on their own but may struggle to sound out words on their own. However helpful these book appear to be there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the books.

Many parents think that Ebooks are a great way to engage children in reading and keep reading interesting. Users of Ebooks claim that the books are great tools when a child is learning how to read. Not only can a child read on their own but the book itself will provide assistance if the child stumbles over a word. Some of the books also provide educational games within the book and are interactive make reading time much more fun.

Parents who are opposed to the Ebooks claim that the books hinder a child learning to read rather than help. Parents say that books have the technology to help a child sound out the words but children are prone to use the technology rather than try to sound out the word on their own. Parents also claim that because of the built in games and interactive nature of the books children are much more interested in playing games rather than learning. Parents claim that old fashion interactive pop-up books are more helpful because they are engaging while a child reads.

Feb
03

Using Instructional Software to Improve Adult Literacy

February 3, 2011 By 7 Comments

February 3, 2011 By 7 Comments

The problem of adult illiteracy is widespread enough that educators must actively seek out effective solutions. When an adult cannot read, his life opportunities are drastically limited. Teaching an adult how to read can be a difficult process. Adults are self-directed and do not respond well to educational strategies designed for children. Quality instructional software products that teach reading skills to adults can be effective educational tools in many respects.

A Self-Directed Approach

A mature adult who is working to improve his reading skills will very likely appreciate a self-directed approach. Give him the tools he needs to master reading and enough motivation to do so, and watch him tackle the task. Using a web-based reading course can help an adult in many ways. He can move along at his own pace in his learning process. He can review lessons as many times as he would like. This factor alone makes instructional software a useful tool for adults. Sitting in a classroom with others or having to repeatedly ask a teacher questions can be humiliating for some adults. Being able to direct their own learning process using instructional software often removes learner anxiety and builds confidence.

Instructional Software With an Audio Component

Quality reading software will have an audio feature with adjustable speeds. An adult needs the ability to slow down or accelerate the pace of the audio to match his reading skill level. Hearing the words spoken out loud will help him to match the sounds to the text, which is highly effective for speeding up the learning process.

Software With a Grading Feature

To increase motivation and gauge progress, the ideal reading software will present reading comprehension questions. Answering the questions should then generate a simple performance report that grades the progress of the adult learner.

With reading software, an adult can learn at a comfortable pace, avoid embarrassment and gauge his own progress. Such technological tools are also tremendous time savers for educators.

Jan
13

T​wentieth Century Children’s Literature

January 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

January 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

T​eaching children’s literature typically involves a focus on the works of the 20th century. Most teachers will focus on those books that were written primarily for children, although a great deal of what we think of today as children’s lit is composed of books that were intended for a more adult audience. For instance, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was not intended for kids; Mark Twain has said that he intended the book for grownups. Conversely, J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series has been read by people of all ages, and many adults claim to be fans of both the author and her characters.

Some of the simpler themes in children’s literature involve morality, friendship and the concept of responsibility. For instance, the “Winnie the Pooh” and related stories by A.A. Milne revolve around the author’s son, Christopher Robin, and his collection of stuffed animals (perceived to be animate and with human emotions and characteristics). Likewise, “Peter Pan,” by J.M. Barrie, is a discussion of children who refuse to grow up and the repercussions thereof.

One of the most popular series of children’s books of all time are the series of novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder, written about her experiences as a child and young adult in the early American frontier. Another wonderful series of children’s literature is “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C.S. Lewis. These books follow a not-quite subtle Christian theme, but also incorporate characters based on Greek and Roman mythology and the fairy tales of other cultures.

It is important to remember that a great deal of the animated films concerning fairy tale characters were derived from children’s novels and poetry. Like the aforementioned Peter Pan, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid and Alice in Wonderland were all originally characters in their own novels, sometimes with dramatically different themes and events than those depicted in their Disney-created films.